Villin-Klf5 transgenic mice had normal-appearing intestinal mucosa.
(A–B) Compared with 1 year-old littermate controls (A), hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained ileal epithelia, along with underlying lamina propria and muscular layers, appeared normal in 1 year-old Villin-Klf5 mice (B). Findings were similar in duodeum, jejunum, and colon of Villin-Klf5 mice. Scale bars: 50 µm. (C–D) Quantitation of BrdU-labeled (C) or Ki-67 positive (D) cells revealed no changes in proliferation in the small intestine or colon of Villin-Klf5 mice at 1 year of age, compared to littermate controls. (E) The number of chromogranin-A positive enteroendocrine cells per crypt-villus unit was unchanged between control and Villin-Klf5 mice at 1 year of age. (F) By Alcian blue staining, no difference was observed in the number of goblet cells within small intestine or colon of 1 year-old control and Villin-Klf5 mice. Similar results were observed for proliferation and differentiation of intestinal cell types in 1 month-, 3 month-, and 6 month-old mice. D = Duodenum, J = Jejunum, I = Ileum, C = Colon.